Noble's Woman Guide

Chapter 4.2

Ye Huaiyang raised her eyes to shoot a glance at Wang Wanting then lowered the butterfly's wing-like eyelashes once again which casted a layer of dense shadow to conceal the disgust in her phoenix eyes.

"Elder sister is really worthy to have attended the imperial college which has also benefited me greatly from your spoken words."

"You should stop pretending!" Wang Wanting could hear the sarcasm in her words as she clenched her fist and slowly stood up, "Who doesn't know the daughter of Ye family openly seducing brother King Lu at the flower feasting banquet? Though a prominent family but the daughters are taught differently as some are naturally in the habit of ingratiating themselves to seek connection. Paternal aunt, like I say, these people should be severely punished otherwise how would they learn the lesson?"

The Queen Mother subtly moved her eyebrows yet her expression appeared even more unfathomable. The old and sharp eyes merely turned over Wang Wanting's temple which caused her whole body to freeze and she dared not say another word again.

Those were the words that Ye Huaiyang had wanted to hear so she arched her pink lips and made use of this opportunity for her own gain, "Elder sister is right. I also feel that punishment should be imposed after all, not everyone is like us who could constantly listen to the Queen Mother's teachings. What would be the use if they revert to their own former ways again a few later later after the one punishment? That's why I think prevention is better than cure."

Wang Wanting was entirely unaware that she had already fallen into her trap that she didn't even notice her wet nurse's wink when she swiftly blurted out, "What prevention methods are you talking about?"

Ye Huaiyang raised her face then swept her sleeves as she stood up and gracefully walked to face the Queen Mother before she stated, "This subject has heard from my elder brother that the Emperor has always have the idea of setting up a women's school, but the natural disaster had been unceasing these past years, hence the national treasury is constrained to aid in poverty alleviation and unable to cope with this idea. Even though this subject is just a boudoir girl, she has always admired the wise-reign of the Emperor. As the concubine-born sister had recently committed a grave mistake, thus this subject truly thinks she should contribute to regulate the women's moral conduct. Therefore would earnestly request the Queen Mother to graciously grant Ye Shi to tribute ten thousand silver taels for the Emperor to build the women's school."

The Queen Mother looked at Ye Huaiyang with a knife-like glance as if she was streaking every inch of her slender body but Ye Huaiyang appeared not affected at all, with her eyes down and her body bent with a proper etiquette of approaching the ground posture that disallowing anyone to nitpick a single fault.

Heaven knows that the Emperor had absolutely never mentioned a word about this before.

None of the noble girls or the slaves in this palace knew about this matter except Ye Huaiyang and the Queen Mother. If the construction of the women's school was to rely on taxation, those gleaming silvers would have taken ages to collect. The Emperor, however, was already placed on the pedestal thus he would have no choice but to honor it. After all, women joining the royal court had now 'spring up like mushrooms' where a large number of female officials had emerged, hence if the women's school were to be regulated then it would truly be a blessing to the country.

Ten thousand taels to redeem a lost cause of moral conduct, she was offering a deal with the Queen Mother.

How could the cunning and crafty Queen Mother fail to understand Ye Huaiyang's intention? Although she was extremely angry, she was unable to rebut her in the presence of everyone here, after all the Emperor had already been dragged by her into this with no room for reversal and could only take advantage of this ploy.

"You're truly considerate."

Ye Huaiyang made another curtsy, "Thanks the Queen Mother for the praise. This subject doesn't deserve your praise. It should be this subject's fortune to be able to make this small contribution to the country however, Ye family's ability is limited and it could be difficult for this matter to succeed hence this subject hopes that all the large prominent families will also give your valuable assistance."

Just one sentence she had overturned the 'add insult to injury' ploy and dragged all those who remained indifference into her goal.

The Queen Mother immediately narrowed her eyes and swept across each one of the several people who were present. As she was deliberating, there was a shadow moving in from the lower right direction. Xie Yun raised her lake-blue skirt as she slowly stepped forward then knelt beside Ye Huaiyang.

'This untalented subject is willing to follow the example of Ye family's younger sister to tribute ten thousand taels to lessen the Emperor's concern."

The inner palace fell in complete silence at the end of the words.

Bai Shi didn't utter a word as she might not have money or one who couldn't make decisions for the Bai family and was now caught in the middle of an awkward situation. Wang Wanting didn't say a word as she probably had already fathomed that she incidentally had helped Ye Huaiyang achieves a truly ingenious motive and also entrapped her paternal aunt as well as everyone present. At this moment, she felt truly regretful that her intestines had turned green and dared not speak a word anymore.

The Queen Mother unexpectedly revealed a smile in this extremely awkward moment.

"It's not workable with having only the silvers as the essence of learning lies with the teachers. The Wang's and Bai's have produced many famous scholars, hence this task will be given to both of you."

Both people quiverly and pensively knelt down for salutation, "This subject will obey."

Chu Jinglan who was silently listening outside, gradually raised his serene eyes looking into the palace as if he could pierce through the door like the thread of satin swaying against the wind sliding across the marble steps and landed silently.

The girl who spoke in the restaurant yesterday was inside the palace and was still as sharp-tongued. It was truly destined by Heaven for him to meet two members of the Ye family in one day.

As if to confirm his thought, the palace was finally quiet and the door panels simultaneously opened wide right before his eyes as several noble girls successively walked out. They were slightly startled when they saw him then one after another, they forced their way through and fled as if they had bumped into the snake plague. Chu Jinglan turned a blind eye and coldly clasped his hands behind his back then walked into the palace but who would have thought he would run into a slender willowy shadow at the corner.

She gracefully made a bow just when a rush of cool breeze passed through the hall blowing up her sleeves and fluttering up her hair.

"Ye Huaiyang pays respect to Wangye."

With the wind soughing, the words were still precisely piercing into the ears of Chu Jinglan like the water striking the stone that he couldn't help but to gaze at the girl in front of him. Barefaced and dressed in a plain skirt with both hands overlapped in front of her while her sleeves fluttered in the wind. She steadfastly stood her ground and quietly looked up at him except those eyes.....seemingly somewhat revealed bare, naked.

This was simply abandoning all restraint.

Chu Jinglan drastically looked away and walked towards the inner of the palace. The silver-gray robe swung out in the air creating an arc and soon varnished into the slowly closed door then disappearing without a trace as the door firmly closed.

Ye Huaiyang stood at the same place in a daze when a moment later, she immediately smiled at herself harboring an astringent look.

He didn't remember her anymore....

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Niángniáng(娘娘) - emperor's consorts/empress

Bù yáo (步搖) - dangling hair ornament worn by women

Núcái (奴才) - your humble slave